YORK, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Medical Society has expressed concern about antibiotic resistance in reaction to a new drug-resistant bacteria.
Some people question if the drug makes people more susceptible to drug-resistant strains. Doctors prescribe antibiotics for a reason, but some wonder if the bacteria-fighting drug is losing the battle.
Minnich's Pharmacy customer Stephen Laughman said, "My first thought was that it was inevitable, because of the persistent reports of high-antibiotic prescriptions being prescribed."
"Some of the antibiotics that are over prescribed, they do have more bacteria that are resistant to them, that are developing." Said Minnich's Pharmacy pharmacist Courtney Kline.
Concern for taking antibiotics is valid, but Kline believes there's no need to fear the drug make patients more susceptible to disease in relation to the MCR-1 bacteria.
"That can happen when antibiotics are over prescribed or over used, however this particular super bug acquired a gene and that's how that developed resistance," Kline said.
"I trust in my doctors recommendations, and never had any reason to question the doctors recommendations, because my doctors don't over-prescribe antibiotics," Laughman said.
Kline advises anyone who's taking an antibiotic to continue to follow their doctor's orders.
"You should continue for the whole course of therapy, for the duration of the antibiotic, because the bacteria might just be to a suppressed level where you feel better, but that doesn't mean it's gone," Kline said.
Laughman said he takes his prescriptions until they're completed, but that he also makes sure to have a conversation with his doctors about the next steps.
Anyone who has specific questions about an antibiotic that they're taking, should talk with their doctor.